Implementing Business Sense in Business

Brilliant talk by Hunter Lovins, author of Natural Capitalism.  One point I'd like to emphasize is that her illustrations of the shortcomings of the "free market" occurred precisely because our governmental structures have actually reward economic and thus ecological stupidity. The word "Economics" comes from the Greek oekonomia which means "the administration of one's household." All living beings are economic entities, but the coercive interference of government in our economy is precisely what has subsidized stupidity.  To me, the automobile is a case in point.  What would transportation look like if government hadn't artificially protected automakers from the structural and operational costs, such as the huge waste of land for highways and the huge loss of human life and health from accidents, pollution, etc.?  As Hunter points out, alternative fuel sources are not competing in a free market because nuclear and coal-fired electrical plants receive huge subsidies and mandated lower interest rates than alternative energy production.  I am not sold on the human-caused climate change paradigm, but there is no doubt that human impact on the natural environment is decimating biodiversity, accelerating disease, etc. 

For me, part of the key is REMOVING government mandates, rather than imposing new ones. 

Anyways, this is a brilliant talk and I hope you'll enjoy it: